Wigan man fighting for answers over historic sexual abuse in care system

Ricky Drinnan, also known as Ricky Kirk, suffered for years with physical and sexual abuse after being placed into social care system as a boy, the trauma of which led him to a life of crime before turning his life around.

The 52-year-old has been embroiled in a legal battle with the town hall for years, in an attempt to show that former council directors were aware of the abuse before he spoke out.

He has released articles and books about his harrowing ordeal. He is now preparing to release a new book which he says will prove his claims. The book, called Wigan Council: Chamber of Evil, is based on Ricky’s own evidence, testimonies from fellow care receivers and former care staff.

The council said it took the welfare of vulnerable children “very seriously” and condemned any abuse, regardless of when it occurred, adding that it works “fairly and sensitively” with individuals who raise claims of abuse.

Ricky has also been left dismayed with the lack of apology to him from the local authority, particularly after one was issued to another abuse victim, Atherton-born poet and broadcaster, Lemm Sissay.

Mr Sissay, who has become one of the country’s most familiar literary figures, is believed to have been paid a six-figure sum by the local authority after settling his court case with Wigan Council over abuse he suffered in the care system as a teenager.

Born in Leigh in 1968, Ricky was raised in Tyldesley before being taken into care in tragic circumstances.

His stepfather was killed in a lorry accident in November 1979, and social workers took him away from his grieving mother just three weeks after the family tragedy.

He was first taken to the Holme Lea assessment centre in Boothstown for three months, on the understanding that he would be returned back home to his family, but this never happened. Social services instead made the decision to put a care order on him until he reached the age of 18, saying that he would be better off in care.

Over the following years, he was sent to several care homes across the UK, including one in Wales, and was also placed in the Woodend assessment centre six times from 1980 -1985.

He was one of hundreds of boys who were sent to the former children’s home in Atherton, between the 1970s and the 1990s.

Ricky said that, while at Wood End, he witnessed children being beaten, manhandled, threatened, intimidated, mentally and verbally abused.

“I witnessed many serious slaps, kicks, punches, beatings with trauma and abuse carried out against the children,” he said.

“The regime in here was evil and I also have not only the ex-staff members’ statements to back it all up but many other lads’ statements.

“I also have proof that the director of children’s services at Wigan Council must have known about it all due to him being a regular visitor.”

Greater Manchester Police launched Operation Milan into allegations of abuse at the Atherton assessment centre in 2015, after complaints of both physical and sexual abuse between the 1970s and 1990s at Woodend were reported to them.

The centre, originally built as a remand facility, closed in 1994.

Ricky went on: “I only managed to sort myself out in 1992, and from then until now I have never been in trouble.

“But I do not put any of this down to the system, who catastrophically failed me all the way through.

“Wigan Council are ultimately responsible and it is about time they accepted responsibility rather than take an ostrich stance by burying their shameful heads in the sand.”

Eleni Ioannides, interim director of children’s services, said: “Wigan Council takes the welfare of its most vulnerable children and young people very seriously.

“We believe that all abuse, regardless of when it occurred, is unacceptable, which is why we work fairly and sensitively with individuals bringing claims.

“However, it would be inappropriate for the authority to comment on any individual claim whether it is ongoing or has been resolved.”

Ricky's book is now available on Amazon.